Where rat control is concerned, federal agencies like the EPA and the CDC mainly provide information and tools that local and state institutions can use. Each state and locality has a unique system for rat control to prevent rat infestations, with which the state Department of Health coordinates. Yet rats are a community problem and the entire neighborhood must work together to ensure that their government’s rat control program works effectively.

While pest management is initiated by an individual, usually by a homeowner, the rat control actions should still be community-based. Residents must have awareness that controlling nuisance animals, especially rats, requires community effort. Residents receive advice about the steps to take, even if the rat is not yet in their home; or even if found or discovered in the neighborhood.

Keep in mind that any measure in controlling rats that one household undertakes will only drive the rodents to another establishment in the neighborhood. These nuisance animals are known to move freely even with barriers in place. The best approach to mitigate rat infestation is through the collective effort of the community — where every household takes action by removing potential food sources and by sealing all possible points of entry.

The next step to take is to keep the rats from coming back to the neighborhood. Homeowners must make sure all trash is kept in containers that rats can’t rummage through while waiting for the garbage collector to pick them up. Another important step is for everyone to remove from their property, any object that can serve as hiding places or shelters for the rodents; e.g. old appliances, junks, and wood scraps.

Every homeowner must make periodic checks if there are new gaps in their house and seal them as soon as possible. It’s also important to take note of the rat control system in one’s state as state governments have strict restrictions in the use of rat poison for extermination purposes.

Texas Rat Control System : Use of Poison in Exterminating Rats

Under Texas Health and Safety Codes for the health ànd safety of animals, including those classified as predatory and nuisance animals, purchase and use of rat poison is placed under the control of the county’s Commissioner Court.

When required by citizens to exterminate nuisance wildlife like rats, wolves, prairie dogs, ground squirrels, coyotes, sparrows, gophers and ravens, the Commissioner may provide the poison to the requesting individual, either free or at cost. However, the requesting citizen must indicate in his or her request when the poison will be used to put out the nuisance creature

The commissioner’s court shall purchase rat poison using the general fund of the county and any proceeds from sale, shall be deposited back to the said fund.

Control in the procurement of rat poison became important because this method was proven as a mere short-term solution for solving rat problems. In a study by scientists from Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, the researchers discovered that rat population limit can be more effectively achieved by eliminating supply of food. Furthermore, as there have been cases of poisoning related to rat pesticides, doctors are unable to administer an effective antidote because the poison manufacturers refused to provide information about their formula.

Texas Wildlife Control Experts and Use of Rat Poison

Not all rat control experts in Texas though use rat poison. The AAAC Wildlife Removal of San Antonio for one, indicates in their website that use of rat poison is never a good method in controlling the rat population.

Primarily because the poisonous substances endanger the health of family pets and children. It can also contaminate a household’s water lines as the effect of the poison causes dehydration in rats. As the poisoned creatures desperately look for water, they could end up dying inside the house’s water source.